How Protecting Florida’s Land Pays Off for Everyone

Florida’s outdoor recreation economy is one of the largest in the country. Fishing, boating, hiking, wildlife watching, and paddling contribute billions of dollars annually, supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and drawing visitors from around the world. But those experiences don’t exist without healthy land and water behind them.

The Numbers Make the Case

The Florida Wildlife Corridor generates $30 billion in annual benefits across recreation, tourism, agriculture, ranching, and farming. That figure reflects the full economic value of keeping Florida’s lands and waters intact.

Protected Land Protects Property Too

The economic stakes go beyond outdoor recreation. Thirty-five percent of Florida properties face high flood risk over the next 30 years. Natural landscapes — wetlands, forests, floodplains — are the most cost-effective flood control available, reducing long-term costs for homeowners and local governments alike.

The Programs Behind the Numbers

Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program are the two main vehicles for protecting these landscapes at scale — safeguarding the springs, rivers, forests, and working lands that underpin Florida’s outdoor economy and rural communities.

Why Community Support Matters

Conservation programs need public backing to stay funded. When Floridians engage with local initiatives, support conservation candidates, and join campaigns like Join the Movement, they help make the economic case that protecting wild Florida is worth the investment.

Want to be part of it? Join the growing community of Floridians who are standing up for the places — and the economy — they love. Join the Movement